Eager golfers open Laconia Country Club for season

Laconia Country Club opened for the season on Thursday. Among the early foursomes out on the course were Mike Laramie, Bob Barry, Steve Behrsing and John Daigneault, shown on the 10th tee with LCC Pro Todd Rollins, second from right. (Roger Amsden photo for the Laconia Daily Sun)

LACONIA — Laconia Country Club opened for the season Thursday and the course is in excellent early season condition, according to head pro Todd Rollins.''We're right on schedule for when we usually open.'' said Rollins, noting that last year 's warm winter enabled the club to open on March 30, the earliest date in its history.He said that the first golfers out on the course Thursday were John Richardson, Ron Jacques and Ted Hamelin and that the course was pretty busy for a mid-week opening.Rollins, who has been at Laconia Country Club since 2004, is a Laconia native who started playing at LCC when he was only 10 years old.He had worked at the course from 1995 to 2000 and spent several years at other courses, including Canterbury Woods, before returning to his city of birth 10 years ago.Rollins was introduced to golf by his father, Arnold ''Rollo" Rollins, who also played hockey with the Laconia Lakers in the 1960s when Richardson, one of tge first to tee off, was the goalie for the championship Lakers semi-pro team which featured players like Pop Whalen and the Pollini brothers of Wolfeboro and Dick Ryerson of Tilton.''Now my sons, Evan. 9, and Brody, 7, are playing junior hockey for the Lakers,'' said Rollins, who says its a good feeling to see the family sports traditions continue.He says that Laconia Country Club, the only private country club on the western side of Lake Winnipesaukee, will open its doors to new members this year with a a trial membership drive in which new members will pay only dues and assessments for the first year, but no initiation fee."We are excited to share this excellent golf experience we offer with residents of the Lakes Region", said Rollins.Club President Randy Annis says the club's 400 members are looking forward to getting out on the course and getting their game back on track. "Nothing says spring better than making a birdie", says Annis.